NPOTA by Satellite

There have been some great opportunities to work hams operating from various National Parks via Satellite.

The ARRL has been sponsoring an NPOTA (National Park On The Air) event spanning the entire country.  And they gave a great shoutout to satellite operations in the July newsletter:

the ionosphere isn’t feeling cooperative, and atmospheric conditions limit the distance some radio waves can travel. One way hams get around an uncooperative ionosphere is to use orbiting ham radio satellites as an intermediary. There are around a dozen satellites in orbit that are designed to relay ham radio signals on certain frequencies in the VHF -UHF portion of the radio spectrum. With only a few watts of power and a handheld directional antenna (as seen in the photo), radio amateurs can communicate through these satellites for as long as the satellite is above Earth’s horizon, which is usually around 10-15 minutes per pass. Each satellite makes about five passes over the US each day.

FO-29

ok, eventually I will move away from the gee whiz posts, perhaps to some more meatier (meteor?) topics... but for now:

celebrating my first QSO using a linear transponder on a Low Earth Orbit satellite!

Managed a QSO, in spite of some deep fades due to fixed polarization, and no preamp.

"Sort of" getting the hang of tuning manually to find my signal, and then keep a QSO going reasonably well.

I had a lot of practice finding my signal on a the U/V XW satellites, but this time had a 60degree pass of the V/U FO-29 satellite.  That's up on 2 meters ("V" ... the first letter is what the satellite receives)
and down on 70cm ("U").


The Kenpro did a fine job, rotating the elk log periodic throughout the pass.

For now, all manual as I still don't have a computer I'm really comfortable using, at least not in the shack.

The only shack cpu cycles are being provided by a win10 tablet that lacks some I/O, or at least I've yet to get the I/O mini-usb to {whatever} working satisfactorily. Maybe work on getting port (and other settings) setup next, or just get a net/note book with full and more usb ports.

The XW sats

Finally had a couple of decent passes lined up.

Using the new rotor setup, had a 42deg pass of XW-2F, followed by
a 47deg pass of XW-2A.

Beautiful site lines for my QTH, AOS was at about 15deg, LOS about the same, for both Sats.

I'm in the shack.

N8HM, Paul, is a real amateur satellite 'heavy hitter'....  he's been working the sats HARD for many years now, and via email he gave me some tips on finding my sig, calculating doppler, for these sats.

Cool.

All set, watching my ipad tracking app.

Sats rise, I call out and wow, able to hear myself back in my FT-736R.

"CQ Satellite, hello, CQ CQ CQ Satellite, this is KA2CZU, Kilo Alpha 2 Charlie Zulu Uniform"

On I go, hearing myself, tracking through the entire sat. Occasionally tuning around for other signals.

Nothing, Nobody.

Just myself.

Ok, fine, it happens... no one on the East coast was ready to talk.

Up next, XW-2A... same drill, different satellite. Call CQ, no takers, hear myself fine... start tuning around and think I hear someone, but can't adjust the doppler properly.  Tune more, adjust the antenna and track through the pass.

Now, I'm thinking, this is ridiculous... I know this is a more popular Sat, and I think I heard others. What gives?

Simultaneous with the sneaking realization, someone else has heard me and will later send me a nice email: Hey, OP, this is {blah 8 blah blah blah} and I heard you on XW-2A, but you were  on the wrong sidebands.

DOH!

LSB up, gets inverted by the sat to, USB down.

I had my rig setup the opposite, and thus no one really wanted to waste a pass by switching themselves, telling me, and then trying to get back to working the pass.

I deserve it:

Rotation, part deux

Finally, Have the tripod and Elevation Rotor, which for some reason my old brain had translated into Yaesu whatever.

In reality, it's a Kenpro, KR-500, with matching controller:

This will allow pursuit of many more options, and basically will allow me to work
from my shack, gaining more expertise with the Yaesu FT-736R. 

This is a nice rig, pretty sensitive receiver, and I've had the most success (such that it has been) using this through the linear transponder sats.

If I run into a nice azimuth rotor deal, I may add that in, with commensurate satpc32 control.

However, for now, this is my basic setup: quick manual positioning of the tripod/antenna for optimal vertical rotation, position antenna for start, head into shack to complete, adjusting the angle for best signal.

Rotation - Option 5

Just wanted to correct something with respect to portable, outdoor (or even indoor) operation.

I had listed 4 options for my shack:

1. to go outside and manually position the antenna, that is go semi-portable with the FT-736R, which I've done... 
2. get a second FT-817 to work full duplex, and then go outside
3. only try to work FM satellites using my FT-817 plus a handheld, OR
4. get some kind of antenna rotor/positioning system in place

In fact, I was overlooking using my SDRPlay SDR receiver... so, in the spirit of "completeness"
there is option:

     5. use SDRPlay with HDSDR as a satellite downlink receiver. For uplink, the FT-817

Rotation

So, my current plan is to keep using the FT-736R, as much to get totally comfortable with the rig as any other reason, and thus stay inside to work satellite passes.

This has posed a dilemma as, obviously, my antenna needs to be outdoors and working a satellite like XW-2A with a fixed position antenna only works for a portion of any given pass.

My home QTH is not the best for summertime satellite work with the density of trees and other factors, but for certain common passes, I can get by.

Therefore, I have several options:

• to go outside and manually position the antenna, that is go semi-portable with the FT-736R, which I've done... 
• get a second FT-817 to work full duplex, and then go outside
• only try to work FM satellites using my FT-817 plus a handheld, OR
• get some kind of antenna rotor/positioning system in place

Thankfully, my brother gave me an old G-550 elevation rotor, but had not tested it at all.

Yesterday, I hooked it up and it seems to work AOK. I have a sturdy tripod and now just
have to come up with some kind of boom arrangement to allow me to easily mount my Elk Log Periodic to the rotor. Seems simple enough.

By visual calculations, just having this arrangement should allow me to work many high passes without worrying about azimuth corrections. The Elk is not that high gain an antenna that precludes a decent signal up or down, except for perhaps the deafest of satellites (and there is at least one, AO-85, with that reputation).

"Stoked" for trying this out, is the word!

Optimal passes

For my home QTH, my best passes are ascending passes directly to the South or South-Southeast.

This gives me the clearest sky, and the best AOS-to-LOS coverage.

Ascending and Descending Nodes in Satellite Orbiting

Many satellites that orbit the Earth are in orbits that are called polar orbits - that means that they go over both of Earth's polar regions, the Arctic and Antarctic. Satellites with this kind of orbit have an ascending node and a descending node of the orbit. The ascending node is when the satellite is traveling south to north over the Earth's surface. The descending node is when the satellite is traveling from north to south over the Earth's surface. 

XW-2A part 2

Had a decent pass, 46 degrees at TCA, of XW-2A yesterday. Made for a quicker pass than the last time, but I was a step ahead of myself. Knowing that I was successful through the transponder, I was ready with a few new frequencies.

Got on, found my signal and called CQ. Heard VE3HII come back but we couldn't quite complete the exchange for a full contact. Emails confirmed that we each heard the other correctly but, as  you know, it's the "on the air" exchange that counts for the log book, hi hi :)

Ordered a portable tripod, on which will be trying my kenpro elevation rotor.  Eventually may setup the az-el, but for most good passes here, the el rotor may actually be enough.  Low Earth Orbit satellites aren't that picky with a short beam like the Elk log periodic antenna, so I'm planning on trying a semi fixed position, but letting the elevation take the beam horizon to horizon on a pass.

For the stronger birds, it should work AOK.

Think I found my bird with which I'll complete my first Transponder satellite contact!

Best 73s (just had to write that for the humor-impaired)

XW-2A and NO-84

So, I continued with another pass of XW-2A and found the same booming strong downlink.

I did try to work N8HM, unfortunately I'm not experienced enough on linear transponders and it took me until the end of the pass to find my signal through the satellite.

The good news is that Paul gave me some helpful hints on compensating for doppler and I did eventually find my signal. It should be easier the next time. Also working on a portable tripod/rotator setup to allow working from the shack FT-736R a bit easier, more consistent signal. Right now, I've just been choosing passes that allow the relatively strong signal to hit the sat from a fixed position.
XW-2A has a good receiver and healthy downlink so this is a good sat for working this way.

For now :)

Onto an NO-84 pass, I was looking for the FM PSK31 downlink... took a while to find, but no signals in the waterfall. Getting closer, I'm going to continue to monitor for PSK31 traffic before attempting to send.

Progress, ever steady, though slow by some standards :)

73!

XW-2A Surprise

Yesterday, I had a little bit of free time, so I decide to setup my elk log periodic 2 band antenna at a fixed SW direction, maybe 35 degrees elevation, and try to listen for a few new satellite beacons.

http://amsat.org.ar/pass has a nice little site giving a rolling list of satellites coming into view over your QTH.

I attempted to listen for, what were to me, obscure satellites using my FT-736r.  After a few failed passes, that is with nothing heard, finally XW-2A came up.

XW 2A or CAS 3A (Chinese Amateur Radio satellite 3A) is a Chinese micro-satellite for atmospheric physics experiments and amateur radio missions. The satellite features a 398 mm × 398 mm × 398 mm cubic body with body mounted solar cells and a mass of approximately 25 kg mass. It features a three-axis stabilization system. The amateur communications payload consists of U/V 20 kHz wide transponders with 145 MHz CW beacon and 19k2 GMSK AX25 telemetry downlinks.

I listened in on 145.660 + doppler which brought it in around 145.663 and found a very very strong cw beacon... hope to put the recording up on box later tonight

Then I swung over to the transponder and found some really really nice signals.

I had never setup my rig for full duplex satellite use before, so pulled out the book and started fiddling around with VFOs and settings, all the while listening in on some QSO's

Eventually I heard my signal, which was cool, however I couldn't get the tuning right in order to engage the other ham operator's call (CQ).

Next time I'll be ready!

Slow as a snail

That's about how fast I progress toward getting on PSK31. Just seem to have too many balls in the air.

However, my 10 meter antenna is back up, and that's the uplink for NO-84.

Now onto getting receiving working to the computers!

ISS

Managed my first *confirmed* Satellite QSO via ISS Packet on Tuesday

Used a

Baofeng UV-5R

To a Mobilinkd TNC2:

and APRSdroid running on a Motorola A855

all signals copied via an Elk Yagi

confirmed in the ARRL Log Book of the World!

edit: I should note that if I had substituted my homebrew 2mtr yagi (I did in fact work ISS packet last summer using the homebrew ant)... then this would possibly qualify as the lowest cost satellite packet setup around: the boafeng can be purchased for $35, the android phone (wifi only) was purchased for $10,  the mobilinkd tnc2 was fairly inexpensive as well....

Up and Away

So, I'm getting close to PSK-31 on NO-84

Close, in that I have the 10 mtr vertical (1/2 wave) up, and a tripod with
an elk for the 70 cm downlink.

Still have to get PSK-31 actually working, along with the satpc32 doppler/rig control
setup.

Looking for another shack pc to use, instead of the tablet. Tablets are "nice" but not
really user friendly for PSK-31 use.

So, more likely I'll get a cheap laptop and setup "something"

We'll see and keep the blog posted as actual progress is made

Control

In my quest to build out capabilities, I've been looking at semi-portable antenna setups.

I home brewed the "AMSAT" cheap satellite antennas, using foam and aluminum wire to actually get on the air with a couple of Baofeng HT's last year.

I eventually upgraded and setup my home station with an FT-736R, FT-817 and an Elk dual band log periodic antenna.

However, my brother W1GGM/7 just "bequeathed" (no, he has not passed on just yet... ) a
Yaesu G500A elevation rotor!  One half of the AZ-EL equation for base operation!

Therefore, I'm going to be looking into some kind of antenna tripod, azimuth rotor and dual antenna (likely) arrangement and try to match this up with SatPC32!

Great, more projects :D

A Happy Valentine's Day to South Jersey... from Space

Today's NOAA-19 19:10z pass over the east coast came out nice, showing the Grand State of South Jersey's severe-clear conditions right now.

It's cold at around 20F, light breeze, but it is SUNNY :)

Beyond voice

So in this new world of Satellite operation, I've been slowly, ever so slowly, catching up on digital technology, software, satelllite telemetry, and working other modes.

For some reason, I still want to hit my thumb with a hammer, so I stay off the simple things and jump right into what, for me, is the most complicated of approaches.

Sure, a grade school girl can, with the help of her dad, work all the FM satellites that pass on the east coast, but I'd like try to understand the world of SDR, digital modes, rig control, and yes eventually satellite antenna control, all via a Nextbook 8" win10 tablet if possible.

So far, I was able to try two SDR receivers:

• The RTL-SDR dongle and
• The SDRPlay SDR receiver

Both have their upsides.

The RTL-SDR/SDR# and WXtoIMG combo seems to consume fewer CPU cycles than the
SDRPlay/HDSDR/WXtoIMG combo for receiving satellite images. However, I seem to more consistently get decent images out of SDR# than HDSDR. Haven't quite figured that out yet.

A recent and decent image I received is from NOAA-19:

an earlier image that was a little less clear, from NOAA-18:

Zen and the Art of Radiotelegraphy

cool book and resource for learning morse code:

http://www.qsl.net/ik0ygj/enu/index.html

ReArrangements

Took advantage of the warm weekend to get up and rearrange some things.

I took down my my non-functional Ambient WS-2080 weather station and installed an MFJ-1754 onto the same mast. Ran the LMR-240 back to the shack.

Also setup an A99 10 mtr vertical, and re-arranged things in the shack so that I will be better positioned for PSK31 operation, once I figure out a way to tie together everything via software.

For NO-84, the architecture is a 10mtr uplink and a 70cm downlink so I need two antennas,
and two clients, one running a Doppler compensating software package up through the A99,
and the other a regular PSK31 client connected to the 70cm downlink.

Yesterday, I tested the receive portion using SDRplay SDR + HDSDR software, listening in on a decent pass of the ISS. I heard the AX.25 packets fairly clearly and that really was encouraging.

It was the first valid data stream I've seen via HDSDR. I didn't try decoding it, but am confident if AX.25 came through that clearly, I should have no trouble listening for a PSK31 stream, even on the much weaker downlink for a cubesat like NO-84.

PSK-31 and HDSDR

My next project in the satellite world will be to attempt working PSK-31 through NO-84 or any other satellite that supports this mode.

First goal is to get my new Software Defined Radio, SDRplay, working using some software.

Check. Can receive.

Second goal is to get this hooked up with a digital mode software, running on my win10 tablet.

Working on this.

....

Final goal will be to get a PSK-31 transmission through a satellite, 10mtr uplink, 70cm downlink.

Stay tuned!

Progress

Having time that aligns with satellite passes is always a challenge.

Having to work Satellites manually, without aid of rotors, is a bigger challenge.

I was on FO-29 last week and finally found myself on the downlink, by whistling.
However, in the process, I called "CQ Satellite" a few times and stepped on a pileup
created by Yuri UT1FG/MM.  Big OOPs.

I worked using my FT-736R on the 2 meter uplink and the FT-817 on the 70cm downlink,
though there was no particular reason, other than the few extra watts the 736 puts out.

Throughout the pass, I manually tracked the sat using my Elk Yagi, mounted on a tripod.
It was clumsy, but it worked.

Now I need to figure out how to hear myself better. Perhaps using CW and making sure via
charts that I am not intentionally stepping on anyone.

Our friend, Doppler, got me this time.

Not again, my friend !  :D